China shows world infinite possibilities of ecological protection - former director of Czech Republic's Sumava National Park

Editor's note: China's foreign assistance in human resources development cooperation serves as a window to share theories and practices on Chinese modernization with the world, contributing Chinese wisdom and solutions to global development. Over the years, China's efforts in human resource development cooperation have yielded fruitful results, enabling foreign trainees to learn about, understand and develop an appreciation for China through their learning experiences. 

"My learning experience in China has completely overturned my preconceived notions about China. The remarkable achievements China has made in nature conservation have reignited my inner passion for the protection of nature", said Jiri Manek, former director of the Czech Republic's Sumava National Park. "China is by no means a country that destroys or neglects nature. On the contrary, it is committed to the conservation of nature, with courage and on a scale that Europeans have never imagined. This resolution and action have inspired my new expectations for the future of nature conservation," he said. 

Jiri Manek, former director of the Czech Republic's Sumava National Park, poses for a photo at the Wuyishan National Park in China. [Photo provided by Jiri Manek]

Manek first visited China in the summer of 2023, when he joined a training program on forestry climate change response for officials from the countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative. The program was initiated by the China International Development Cooperation Agency and organized by China's National Academy of Forestry and Grassland Administration. During the 20-day study tour, he gained a deep understanding of China's innovative practices in ecological protection and its advanced concept of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature, an experience that forged an unbreakable bond with China. Since then, he has returned to China many times and visited its major national parks, including the Sanjiangyuan National Park, Giant Panda National Park, Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park, Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park and Wuyishan National Park.

Jiri Manek, former director of the Czech Republic's Sumava National Park, poses for a photo at the Giant Panda National Park in China. [Photo provided by Jiri Manek]

"To truly understand the core of ecological protection in China, I have done a lot of research through reference books and legal documents using AI tools -- and I even started to learn Chinese, just to better understand the documents," Manek said. "My experience in China completely changed the course of my life. I quit my two stable jobs in the Czech Republic and decided to devote myself entirely to exploring China's ecological efforts -- especially on national parks, as this is a fascinating new world to me. I hope to share it with the European public because they know almost nothing about it," he said.

Speaking about China's practices, Manek was really impressed. "China has implemented a commercial logging ban on natural forests and established a complete and strict nature conservation system. By leveraging AI, an integrated monitoring network covering space, the ground and air has been established, integrating data from multiple sources such as satellites, unmanned aerial vehicles and ground surveillance, to conduct real-time and precise monitoring and protection of natural ecosystems, wild animals and plants. These measures are not only comprehensive and systematic, but also demonstrate the advanced concept of technology empowering ecological protection," he said.

"What amazes me most is the achievements China has made in just a few years -- from the gradual recovery of the gibbon population in Hainan, to the continuous expansion of the giant panda habitat, and then to the significant restoration of the ecological environment in Sanjiangyuan, every step has been taken with confidence and determination," Manek said, adding, "such admirable achievements show the world the infinite possibilities of ecological protection."

"I was awed at the beginning to learn that China has initiated relocation projects for hundreds of thousands of residents in order to build a coherent and complete system of nature reserves", he said, "But what surprised me even more was that China did not turn these residents into 'bystanders of ecological protection', but instead opened up a 'new life of safeguarding their homeland' for them. In the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park, most of the ecological guardians are local residents. In the Sanjiangyuan National Park, more than 17,000 local herdsmen have become ecological guardians. In Europe, we also engage in ecological protection, but we often 'drive people out of protected areas', leaving nature as 'uninhabited wilderness'. China does not -- China makes its residents the 'protectors', enabling them to realize their own value while safeguarding nature," he said.

"I suddenly realized the secret to the success of nature conservation. It is not about 'sacrificing people for nature', but about 'making people part of nature'. When residents become protectors and protection becomes a part of life, they are no longer 'objects to be saved', but 'homes to be guarded'. This concept is more advanced than any technology and holds greater value than any individual achievement," Manek said.